Post by : Meena Ariff

Photo: Reuters

A tragic incident happened in the Red Sea this week. Six crew members have been rescued, but at least three others have been killed after a cargo ship was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi fighters and then sank. This information was shared by a European naval mission that is currently helping with the rescue and search operations.

What happened to the ship Eternity C?

The cargo ship that was attacked is named Eternity C. It is registered under the Liberian flag and operated by a company from Greece. On board were 25 crew members. The ship was sailing through the Red Sea when it came under attack on Monday.

The attack began when small boats came close to the ship and fired rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) at it. These are powerful weapons that can destroy heavy vehicles or ships. Because of this, Eternity C suffered serious damage. Its engine stopped working, and it lost all power, meaning it could not move at all.

The attack continued for two days.

Even after the initial attack on Monday, the ship continued to face attacks on Tuesday. This shows how dangerous the situation was for the crew, who were trapped on a ship that was slowly sinking. Because of the damage, water started entering the ship, and it finally sank into the sea.

Why did the Houthis attack this ship?

The Houthis are a rebel group in Yemen, and they are supported by Iran. They said that they attacked Eternity C because it was heading towards Israel. The Houthis claimed that they took some of the crew members to a “safe location.” However, the United States Embassy in Yemen said that the Houthis had kidnapped many of the surviving crew members and demanded their immediate release.

Who were the crew members?

According to Philippine authorities, 21 of the crew members were citizens of the Philippines. Another crew member was a Russian national who was badly injured during the attack. Sadly, he lost one of his legs due to his injuries. There was also an Indian crew member on board.

The second ship was attacked within a week.

This attack on Eternity C was not the only one carried out by the Houthis recently. Just one day earlier, on Sunday, the Houthis attacked another cargo ship called Magic Seas. This ship was also Liberian-flagged and operated by a Greek company.

The Houthis said that Magic Seas belonged to a company that “violated the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine.” In simple words, they said that the company was breaking rules by dealing with Israel. However, many times the Houthis make such claims even if ships are not directly linked to Israel.

What happened to Magic Seas?

Video footage released by the Houthis showed armed fighters boarding the ship. The fighters planted explosives on the ship and set them off, which caused huge explosions and made the ship sink. Luckily, all 22 crew members of Magic Seas were rescued safely by another merchant vessel that was passing by.

How many attacks have Houthis carried out?

Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out attacks on about 70 merchant ships. They used missiles, drones, and small boat attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The results of these attacks so far include:

• Four ships have been sunk
• One ship has been seized
• At least seven crew members have been killed

Why are Houthis attacking ships?

The Houthis say that they are attacking ships to show their support for the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. They claim that they only target ships linked to Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom because these countries have carried out air strikes on Yemen. But many times these claims are not true, and they end up attacking ships that have no connection to these countries.

Rescue operations for the Eternity C crew

The European Union’s naval mission in the Red Sea, called Operation Aspides, said that they were taking part in the international rescue efforts to save crew members from the Eternity C. On Wednesday, they said that six crew members had been rescued from the sea. Five of them were from the Philippines, and one was Indian. However, 19 crew members were still missing at that time.

Rescue videos show emotional scenes.

A Greece-based maritime security company named Diaplous shared a video that showed the rescue of at least five sailors. These sailors had spent more than 24 hours floating in the sea before they were saved. Diaplous said, “We will continue to search for the remaining crew until the last light.” This means they would not stop looking until it became dark.
Death toll update

While initial reports said three people were killed, some maritime security firms later reported that four crew members had died in this tragic incident.

What did the US government say?

The United States government strongly condemned these attacks. They said that the attacks on Magic Seas and Eternity C show the ongoing danger posed by the Houthis. The US stated that these attacks are a serious threat to freedom of navigation, which means the ability for ships to move safely in international waters, and also threaten the economic and security stability of the region.

The US added that it will continue to take all necessary actions to protect commercial shipping and keep sea trade routes safe from such terrorist attacks. They urged other countries to condemn these attacks as well.

A missile launched from Yemen was intercepted

In another incident on Thursday, Israel’s military said its air force had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. They did not give more details about what kind of missile it was or where it was aimed.

Previous ceasefire with Houthis

In May this year, the Houthis agreed to a ceasefire deal with the United States after the US carried out seven weeks of strong air strikes on Yemen. These strikes were done in response to attacks on international shipping. However, the Houthis said that the ceasefire did not include stopping attacks on Israel. Israel has also carried out many retaliatory air strikes on Yemen.

The International Maritime Organization calls for peace.

The head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, said that the new attacks are a clear violation of international law and freedom of navigation. He said, “Innocent seafarers and local populations are the main victims of these attacks and also suffer from the pollution they cause.”
He urged countries to work together diplomatically to stop these attacks and keep sea routes safe for everyone.